Fix: Bluetooth Missing and Disappeared on Windows 10

Bluetooth goes missing in your system’s Settings mainly because of issues in the integration of the Bluetooth software/frameworks or due to an issue with the hardware itself. There can also be other situations where Bluetooth disappears from the Settings because of bad drivers, conflicting applications etc.

First of all, you should check if Bluetooth hardware is indeed present on your device (or your system supports Bluetooth). If it is, it means that there isn’t a proper configuration because of which you are facing this difficulty. Take a look at the solutions listed down below.

Boot into Safe Mode and then Back to Normal Mode

1. Hold the Windows Key and Press R. Type msconfig and click OK
2. Go to the Boot tab and put a check on Safe Boot. Check Safe Mode in Boot Tab
3. Reboot the PC and it should boot into Safe Mode. Once in Safe Mode, the drivers should be installed automatically.
4. Repeat Step 1 and 2 to uncheck Safe Boot and boot back into Normal mode and check to see if the issue is resolved.

Checking the Bluetooth Service

The most common reason why Bluetooth doesn’t show in Settings is that its service isn’t enabled. By default, the service startup type is set as Manual instead of Automatic. We can try starting the service again, changing it to automatic and check if this solves the problem.

1. Press Windows + R to launch the Run application. Type “services.msc” in the dialogue box and press Enter. Type “services.msc” into the Run dialog and press Enter
2. Once in Services, navigate through all the entries until you find “Bluetooth Support Service”. Double-click the service to launch its properties.

Do note that in some devices, there may be other services as well such as ‘Bluetooth Driver Management System, etc.”. Make sure that you perform these changes to all of them.

Bluetooth Support Service

1. Start the service first by clicking the “Start” button and set the startup type as “Automatic”. Press Apply to save changes and exit.

Set Bluetooth Support Service Startup Type as Automatic

1. Go to settings by pressing Windows + I and then navigate to “Devices” and check if the problem is resolved.

Installing the Default Drivers

Another workaround to solve this problem is to install the default drivers for the hardware. We can do this by uninstalling the device and then checking for hardware using the device manager.

1. Press Windows + R, type “devmgmt.msc” in the dialogue box and press Enter. Run devmgmt.msc
2. Once in the device manager, expand the category of “Bluetooth”. Your Bluetooth hardware will be listed here. Right-click on it and select “Uninstall”.

Uninstall Device in Device Manager

1. The Bluetooth category will completely vanish from the device manager. This means that the device was successfully uninstalled.

Bluetooth Category Disappeared From Device Manager

1. If you cannot see Bluetooth devices there, click on View menu, then click on Show Hidden Devices. Clicking on the “Show Hidden Devices” option
2. Right-click on any space and select “Scan for hardware changes”. Your computer will now scan all the hardware connected. After it comes across the Bluetooth hardware, it will automatically install the default drivers.

Scan for Hardware Changes in Device Manager

1. Open the Bluetooth category again and check if the driver was successfully installed.

Check Bluetooth Category

1. Now you can check if the option is back in the settings. If it isn’t, restart your computer and check again. Do note that you might have to scan for hardware changes more than once if it doesn’t detect it on the first try.

Note: You should also check if the device is enabled. Right-click on the device and select “Enable device”.

In rare cases, the driver for your hardware is corrupt or isn’t compatible. In that case, right-click on the device, and select “Update driver”. There will be two options available (Automatic and Manual). Opt for automatic and make sure that you have an active internet connection. Windows will now search for drivers online and update them.

If you can’t find any drivers automatically, try using the manual method and install the drivers after downloading them from the manufacturer’s website.

Enabling Bluetooth using the Physical Key

On many laptops, there is a separate key present for enabling/disabling the Bluetooth device. Make sure that the Bluetooth is indeed enabled using that physical key on your laptop.

Many laptops have a shortcut of Bluetooth on their keyboard. These keys are usually Fn + F12 etc. Check your keyboard thoroughly and make sure that Bluetooth is indeed enabled. It seems that the physical keys always override the software so software alone cannot start/initiate your Bluetooth.

Enabling Bluetooth on the Taskbar

If you want to add Bluetooth to your notification area, you can do so easily by changing the settings. By having it on your Taskbar, you can perform actions but just right-clicking the icon instead of navigating to settings and performing them there.

Add Bluetooth to the Notification Area

1. Press Windows + S to launch the search bar. Type “Bluetooth” in the dialogue box and open the most relevant application which comes forth.

Open Bluetooth from Windows Start Menu

1. On the left side of the screen, there will be additional options. Select “More Bluetooth options”.

Open More Bluetooth Options

1. Once in Bluetooth settings, check the box which says “Show the Bluetooth icon in the notification area”. Press Apply to save changes and exit. The Bluetooth icon will automatically be present on your taskbar.

If you can’t see it, press the arrow on the taskbar to show hidden icons. It will most probably be present there.

Show the Bluetooth icon in the notification area

Run the Bluetooth Troubleshooter

Windows 10 has many built-in troubleshooters to help users in solving many Windows 10 problems. It has a dedicated Bluetooth Troubleshooter as well. This troubleshooter automatically checks your existing Bluetooth hardware and makes sure that it is integrated with the OS properly. If it isn’t, it will try to reinitialize everything again from scratch and reconfigure the hardware. This may take some time so make sure you let the process complete.

1. Press Windows key, type Troubleshoot and then click on Troubleshoot Settings. Open Troubleshoot Settings
2. In the right pane of the window, scroll down and Find Bluetooth.
3. Now click on Bluetooth and then click on Run This Troubleshooter. Run The Bluetooth Troubleshooter
4. Now follow the instructions displayed on the screen.
5. Once the troubleshooter has completed its process, restart the system and check if the Bluetooth icon is back.

Hopefully, your system is clear of the Bluetooth problem. If not, then try to reset your BIOS to “Factory Settings“.

Bluetooth disappeared on Windows 10

Today from one minute to another, the bluetooth toggle in my settings disappeared.

I’ve set up the start up type as Automatic under the Bluetooth support service under the services command but that didn’t help. I also did a bluetooth driver update and installed all of the latest drivers.

Now under Device manager, even with show hidden options on, the bluetooth option doesn’t appear.

I’ve followed guidelines from other forums but none work.

any other ideas please?

Replies (3) 

Have you updated Bluetooth Driver from Device Manager or from Computer manufacturer’s site?

Have you already run Troubleshooters for Bluetooth and Hardware & Devices
Type troubleshoot in Windows Starts Search box (Cortana) > Troubleshoot
Click Bluetooth and run the troubleshooter
Click Hardware & devices and run the troubleshooter

What is make and model number of your computer?

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What is the make and model of your computer?
Which version of Windows 10 is installed?

Go into BlueTooth Settings > Devices > Bluetooth and other devices > then unpair/remove the device, restart then pair it again.

Use the Add Bluetooth wizard in Control Panel
Press Windows key + R
Type: control printers
Hit Enter
Click Add device then add the Bluetooth device again.

Have you checked for updated chipset drivers for your make and model?
Also, some manufacturers will provide separate Bluetooth drivers.

Press Windows key + R
Type: services.msc
Hit Enter
Scroll down to Bluetooth Support Service
Right click it
Click Properties
Under the General tab
Click in the Startup type: listbox
Choose Automatic
Click Start

Click Apply then OK

Restart your computer then check if its working.

Other things you can try include the Bluetooth troubleshooter.

Open Start > Settings > Update & security > Troubleshoot
Scroll down to Bluetooth
Click Bluetooth then click Run the troubleshooter

When complete, Restart your computer.

Press Windows key + X
Click Device Manager
Expand Bluetooth
Right click each entry then click Properties
Select the driver tab, click Rollback if its not grayed out.

If it is grayed out, right click Bluetooth driver then click uninstall
Restart your computer then check if its working again.

If not, remove any other Bluetooth devices since they might be causing interference .

Bluetooth has disappeared from Windows 10

The setting to switch Bluetooth on / off has disappeared from my Bluetooth settings page. I have since tried updating the drivers, reinstalling the drivers and even uninstalling the device from the Device Manager page, followed by selecting «scan for hardware changes», and nothing has worked, its as though my computer has simply forgotten how to turn Bluetooth on.

Replies (28) 

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Hi there! I am Louie, a Microsoft Community member and a fellow Windows 10 user like you. Hope you’re doing well and safe there.
We suggest you to try the steps provided by Greg Carmack on this link:
https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/for.

Hope this helps

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Hi, I have the same issue — I’ve factory reset my PC and it still thinks I dont have bluetooth on this PC.

Did you ever work out what was wrong?

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Nope. I’ve read that sometimes it just shows up again on its own so I’ve been checking regularly but no dice.

I’ve read that re-installing Windows 10 might work but who wants to do that?

You gotta love an OS that just loses important functions at random, don’t you?

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Dude! It worked! You’re a genius!

The key was obviously unplugging in addition to turning the computer off (which I had done any number of times).

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I have a Dell XPS desktop with Qualcom QCA8930 wireless/bluetooth board. The Bluetooth drops out periodically and the only way I have found to fix it is to turn off the pc, unplug it for 10 seconds, plug it back in and then start. It always fixes it, but it is a pain. Restarting or shutting down and starting again do not solve the problem; the ac cord has to be disconnected and then reconnected.

Amazing. Thank you. This helped my user out on their Dell Precision 5520, where Bluetooth functionality had disappeared completely from Windows 10.

Things that DID work:

1. Do a complete shut down (hold SHIFT and shut down the computer), unplug the computer from all power for 10 seconds, plug the computer in and start the computer.